Then and Now: GOP Tries to Hide Opposition to Middle Class Tax Cuts

Leader Cantor yesterday: “The Republican conference in the House was never for allowing payroll taxes to go up on working people. And somehow that message didn’t seem to go and flow through, in terms of the message coming out of Washington… Why would we want to stand in the way of anything that would allow that to happen?” [The Hill, 2/7/12]

Compared to Leader Cantor in August: The AP reported that Leader Cantor “has never believed that this type of temporary tax relief is the best way to grow the economy.” [AP, 8/22/11]

And he wasn’t alone:

Rep. Paul Broun (GA-10): “This payroll tax holiday is just a gimmick to try to get [Obama] reelected… This is bad policy.” [Politico, 2/5/12]

Rep. Jason Chaffetz: (UT-03):“Tax holidays just are bad policy. A year is pretty short.” [Politico, 2/5/12]

NRCC Chairman Pete Sessions (TX-32): “Rep. Pete Sessions of Texas, who heads the House Republican campaign committee, called Obama’s plan ‘a horrible idea.’ He said GOP candidates would have no difficulty explaining to voters why they want to let the tax break expire.” [LA Times, 9/9/11]

Republican Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (MI-04): “I’m not in favor of that. I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Camp said of extending the payroll tax cut. [The Hill, 8/14/11]